Development News

Designer Days Boutique opens in Squirrel Hill, supports community service and advocacy programs

Related Tags

Designer Days Boutique (DDB) has moved to a larger, more prominent location in Squirrel Hill, expanding the opportunity to combine shopping with a good cause.

The consignment shop, which opened Monday at 5873 Forbes Avenue, sells upscale designer clothing, including items by Alexander McQueen, Alice+Olivia, Armani, and Betsy Johnson, among others, as well as jewelry and designer purses. In addition, the boutique has just begun to offer designer clothing for men.

But because the boutique operates on a non-traditional business model, purchases at DDB do more than make you look good, they benefit the community as well.

DDB is a project of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), Pittsburgh Section. The boutique is one of three social enterprises run by NCJW that generates revenue to support nonsectarian community service and advocacy programs aimed at increasing the economic independence of women.

NCJW's programs include the Suit Yourself Voucher Program, which provides free business clothing to women re-entering the workforce; Back to Work, an internship program for at-risk and low-income women; and Back to School, which allows children to shop for free at NCJW's Thriftique shop for back-to-school clothes.

At DDB, 50% of sale revenues are given back to consigners, with the other half funding NCJW's community service work.

The new space, which replaces the former Occasions dress shop, will also be used to host NCJW's Girls' Night Out event series which raises funds for local nonprofits.

In addition to DDB, NCJW operates two other retail stores, a thrift shop, Thriftique, and a home furnishings consignment shop, Home Consignments, both located in Swissvale.